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TaxSlayer

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4.9

Overall Score

LAST UPDATED: January 20th, 2024

In 1965, Aubrey Rhodes Sr. founded Rhodes-Murphy & Co., which has since evolved into the innovative company TaxSlayer. TaxSlayer is a tax filing platform that provides personalized tax filing to help customers receive their returns quickly and easily. The  company's easy-to-use tools and comprehensive deduction finder provide maximum refunds, but with low tax preparation fees. TaxSlayer prices its product based on service levels, not the forms users receive.

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The Good

  • Variety of Services
  • Audit Risk Assistance
  • Accuracy Guarantee
  • Tools for Business Owners
  • Accreditations

Variety of Services

TaxSlayer offers personalized guidance for any unique self-employed tax situation. Contractors, 1099ers, side hustlers, and the self-employed the company invites all to use their services. TaxSlayer provides many software and hardware options to help customers improve the way they address taxes, with three different editions, including the Simply Free edition. 

Audit Risk Assistance

This simple meter tells users whether their return is likely to get audited based on several factors. While this is a great tool provided by TaxSlayer, it is only available on their Premium Edition and Self-Employed.

Accuracy Guarantee 

TaxSlayer offers a thorough and helpful accuracy guarantee, promising a maximum tax return or money back. If TaxSlayer does make a mistake, it promises to reimburse clients for any Federal or State penalties/interest charges.

Tools for Business Owners 

In 2018 TaxSlayer launched a new tool named Workful, which helps small business owners organize their day-to-day operational tasks by consolidating payroll, human resources, and point of sale services into a single cloud-based solution. Additionally, it created LegalSpark to provide fast, affordable legal advice for every legal issue. LegalSpark offers advice from experienced and approved lawyers at a rate of $49.99 for a 20-minute phone conversation. LegalSpark’s lawyers advise consumers on a single legal matter, which saves them the hassle and expense of engaging with law firms or paying an ongoing retainer. 

Accreditations

TaxSlayer checks off all the boxes when it comes to accreditations. There are specific licenses and accreditations that tax prep companies are expected to have in the industry such as the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) Enrolled Agents, Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), e-File capabilities, and Accredited Tax Preparer. These certifications and accreditations help keep specific legal and ethical standards in the industry. 

An Enrolled Agent is registered with the IRS and is authorized on a federal level to practice in all things related to taxes such as audits, collections, and appeals. This status must be renewed every three years with the IRS. 

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is certified by the state and can act on a state level. Along with this certification, a CPA can help manage money, financial planning, etc. The federal government does not approve CPAs. 

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The Bad

  • Limited Online Chat Help
  • Lack of Transparency

Limited Online Chat Help

TaxSlayer does not provide online chat for all clients; only those clients who choose the Premium plan receive live chat support.

Lack of Transparency

While TaxSlayer may give unique and convenient service, the lack of transparency about certain aspects of the service may dishearten potential clients. For example, TaxSlayer.com does not provide information on its site about the average time it takes to complete taxes, nor do they answer this question via customer service. The company also has very limited information regarding audits. While this may be a simple slip up that does not guarantee dishonest service, it does make the company appear less reputable.

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The Bottom Line

It’s a unique perk in this industry to have a company of this size and experience be family owned and operated. TaxSlayer's reviews reveal that this Georgia-based company provides an unparalleled, personalized level of service that family-run businesses offer. 

Is TaxSlayer a recommended program for individuals and businesses?  Certainly. The company has years of experience providing professional tax preparation, ensuring that individuals will likely receive quality service. Though it may not be ideal for a business owner with very complex deductions and financial issues, it does have that "Premium" level and “Self-Employed” level of service. This means that it is likely that individuals and many types of business owners will not run into any problems when relying on this software to get the job done.

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Star Rating

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4.2

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29 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

62%

4 grade

21%

3 grade

3%

2 grade

0%

1 grade

14%

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Jon Scoresby Saratoga Springs, UT

Tax slayer was one of the first online tax services I used. I think they were great at the time but the other companies provide a little more love and care.

4 years ago